noun Uncommon

impetus

IHM-puh-tuhs

Impetus (noun) means something that drives or encourages an action to happen; a driving force. Example: “The scandal gave fresh impetus to calls for reform.”

noun

Something that drives or encourages an action to happen; a driving force.

"The scandal gave fresh impetus to calls for reform."

"Winning the award gave her the impetus to start a new project."

How to use impetus

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe push or motivation that gets something moving or started.

Easily confused with

impetuous →

Common pairings

give impetus to lose impetus fresh impetus

Word forms

impetuses plural, impetus plural

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The scandal gave fresh _____ to calls for reform.

Etymology

From Latin impetus ("a rushing upon, an attack"), from impeto ("to rush upon").

Origin: Latin

Rhymes for impetus

fetus Cletus

See all rhymes for impetus →

Frequently asked questions

What does “impetus” mean?

The word “impetus” means something that drives or encourages an action to happen; a driving force. In plain terms, the push or motivation that gets something moving or started.

How do you pronounce “impetus”?

“Impetus” is pronounced IHM-puh-tuhs (/ˈɪm.pə.təs/ in IPA).

How do you use “impetus” in a sentence?

Here is “impetus” used in a sentence: “The scandal gave fresh impetus to calls for reform.”

What part of speech is “impetus”?

“Impetus” is a noun.

Where does the word “impetus” come from?

The word “impetus” comes from Latin. From Latin impetus ("a rushing upon, an attack"), from impeto ("to rush upon").

Is “impetus” a common word?

“Impetus” is an uncommon word in modern English.